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Oakdale Summerfest 2018

Oakdale’s 35th annual Summerfest is nearly here

The sun is out, kids are out of school and Oakdale’s 35th Summerfest celebration is just around the corner, waiting to mark the beginning of summer.

This year’s Summerfest will run from Thursday, June 21, through Sunday, June 24, with most festivities staged around City Hall in Richard Walton Park, 1584 Hadley Ave. N.

Summerfest event chair and city Parks Superintendent Jeff Koesling said that typically the celebration draws about 20,000 people over its four days, and with the exception of a few new vendors, this year’s attractions will include mostly familiar favorites, such as the petting zoo, live music, carnival rides and festival foods.

Mayor Paul Reinke said that his favorite part of Summerfest is the Ted Bearth Grande Parade, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 21.

“It’s the happiness and the joy in the kids’ eyes,” Reinke said. “It’s the moms and dads who put their chairs out well in advance of the parade, trying to get the best spot. It’s the large number of people — my gosh, we have so many people — who like to participate in our parade.”

Before the kick off

• The Summerfest Medallion Hunt will begin Monday, June 18. The first clue will appear at 8 a.m. at Oakdale City Hall and will also be available on the city website, www.ci.oakdale.mn.us and on the clue hotline at 651-734-2615. New clues will be available daily at 8 a.m. until the medallion is found. The person who finds the medallion will receive $1,000 cash. This year, there will be no bonus prize if the finder has a Summerfest button.

• Now through the start of the event, carnival ride tickets are being sold at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Ave. N. The pre-festival deal is 10 tickets for $20, and, specific to the pre-sale tickets, each ride will only require one. If festival-goers wait to buy tickets at the event, a sheet of 50 tickets will cost $45, but the rides will require three to five of these tickets. Armbands will also be sold at the event for $24 and are good for unlimited rides.

• Summerfest buttons are for sale at participating businesses throughout Oakdale. Also, buttons will be on sale at Oakdale City Hall and the Summerfest Royalty Coronation event. Buttons cost $3 each or two for $5, and all sales from the buttons support Summerfest Royalty programs. Those who purchase a button will be entered into a prize drawing for gift cards to local businesses.

• The Oakdale Summerfest Royalty Coronation will be held at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 8620 Hudson Blvd., at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 19. Summerfest Buttons will be sold at the event, and are required for entry.

Opening Day — Thursday, June 21

• Carnival rides, concession stands, the bingo tent and the Maplewood/Oakdale Lions Club Beer Garden will be open 5 to 11 p.m.

• The Ted Bearth Grande Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Geneva Avenue (Highway 120) and 15th Street, traveling east on 15th and concluding at City Hall. The parade route, nearby streets and the City Hall parking lot will close to traffic at 5:30 p.m. and reopen around 8 p.m. at the end of the parade. Vehicles in the City Hall parking lot at 5:30 p.m. will need to remain in the lot until the parade is over.

• Gravel Roads will perform a free country rock concert at the bandshell in Richard Walton Park from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Those who plan to attend are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets to sit on.

Friday, June 22

• 3rd Lair’s skateboard contest begins at 5 p.m. at the skatepark, and results, standings and cumulative point totals from every competitor will be tracked at www.3rdlair.com. Skateboarders can register for free at 4 p.m. Raffles will also be held at this event.

• Carnival rides, bingo, concessions and the beer garden will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight.

• Uncle Chunk will perform a free concert of classic and alternative rock songs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the bandshell. Consider bringing your own chair or blanket.

Saturday, June 23

• A 10K run will begin at 8 a.m. at the Oakdale Discovery Center, 4444 Hadley Ave., and a 5K run/walk will begin at 8:10 a.m. Same-day registration and sign-in at the Discovery Center for both the 5K and 10K starts at 7 a.m. and costs $30 for the 5K and $40 for the 10K. The registration fee includes a T-shirt, chip timer and refreshments.

• Carnival rides, the beer garden and concessions will be open from noon to midnight. There will be one final chance for unlimited carnival rides for one price between noon and 5 p.m. Details will be available at www.ci.oakdale.mn.us.

• The Big Epic Show, a teen-based comical hip-hop variety show, will provide free entertainment at the bandshell from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Consider bringing your own chair or blanket.

• From 7 to 10 p.m. the Rockin Hollywoods will perform classic rock and roll for free at the bandshell. Consider bringing your own chair or blanket.

• Sunday is an optional day for vendors and some concessions will still be available.

• The Summerfest Classic Car Show is on Sunday this year instead of Saturday, as it has been in past years. It will start at noon and run until 4 p.m., and spectators will be able to vote for their favorite automobiles. There is no registration fee, and any make/model/year can be entered. Entry forms are available at www.ci.oakdale.mn.us.

Local business owner and T.V. host chosen as grand marshal

Although Oakdale’s Summerfest is filled with a variety of activities, the Ted Bearth Grande Parade, which is named after the late Oakdale Mayor and Washington County commissioner who helped found Summerfest, has always been one of its most popular events.

The position of parade grand marshal provides the city an opportunity to draw special attention to someone who exemplifies pride and spirit within the community, and this year, Frank Orsello has been selected for the honor.

Although many residents will recognize Orsello as the host of the local cable T.V. show, “Oakdale Update,” he has been involved behind the scenes in Oakdale’s growth since the 1970s.

According to parade organizer Laura Heimkes, Orsello, who was nominated by the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce, was selected by the Summerfest Committee as grand marshal for several reasons including his many years of active involvement with Oakdale’s business community.

Orsello said that when he found out he was selected to be grand marshal he “felt very honored,” adding “this is the big one.”

Orsello, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965 to 1971, began his Oakdale residency in 1971. In the 1970s he volunteered as a t-ball coach and opened his business, Cavalier Barbers.

“I opened the shop in 1974 when Oakdale was country, corn and pastureland, and so I’ve been here all these years,” he said.

In 1985, Orsello and a few other business owners founded the Oakdale Business and Professional Association, which is now the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce. He served as president of the organization from 1991 through 1993.

Orsello was also one of the first members on the city’s Economic Development Commission, which he said also started up in the 1980s.

He explained that the chamber and commission have similar interests, but the chamber is more of a networking organization for business professionals, while the commission is tasked with encouraging new businesses to come to the city and making sure the existing businesses have their best chance to succeed in Oakdale.

In 1998, Orsello became host of “Oakdale Update,” the local cable T.V. show that replaced “The Mayor’s Update.”

He explained that as a barber, he’s used to visiting with people all day. “All I do is just do it in front of a camera now,” Orsello said. “I just love doing it ... so I’ve been doing it for 20 years.”

Mayor Paul Reinke underscored Orsello’s place in the community.

“Frank has been on the leading edge of quality growth in Oakdale for ... a long time,” Reinke said. “His show ... has contributed to leading the community together in a common goal with a broad level of understanding of the issues of the local schools, community and state, and that has been a tremendous asset for our community too.”

Orsello said he plays his part in a well-run city.

“The people in the community ... and the people that work for the city, they’re so good and they’re so dedicated,” Orsello said. “There isn’t a big turnover in Oakdale, so that means it’s a good community. That means it’s running well and things are going smoothly. ... I like to consider myself part of the growth of Oakdale.”

Orsello said his favorite parts of Summerfest are the fireworks, held Saturday night, and the parade, which he said organizers “have down to an exact science.”

In the parade, Orsello will be riding in a convertible with Jodi Christensen, this year’s Oakdale Volunteer of the Year. They will be seventh in the parade lineup.

The Ted Bearth Grande Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, at Geneva Avenue (Highway 120) and 15th Street, traveling east on 15th and concluding at City Hall.

The parade route, nearby streets and the City Hall parking lot will close to traffic at 5:30 p.m. and reopen around 8 p.m. at the end of the parade. Vehicles in the City Hall parking lot at 5:30 p.m. will need to remain in the lot until the parade is over.